Reality Check: Minn. Budget Bill’s State Workforce Cuts

ST. PAUL (WCCO) — Minnesota’s laid off state workers are back on the job after the governor and legislature reached a budget deal, but they face more cuts with the compromise to end the 20-day shutdown.

The head of the state’s largest public workers union says the focus on public workers is unnecessary because, in part, Minnesota’s workforce is relatively small compared to other states.

“We have the 10th leanest workforce in the nation,” said Eliot Seide, the head of AFSCME. “We produce the best public services in the nation. Minnesotans are going to be happy to see our people back to work serving them again.”

One Comment

Who wrote this rubbish? What you don’t say is how big our COUNTY government workforces are, and they are HUGE. I don’t really believe that very many will be losing their jobs. Dayton and the unions will simply shift some workers from one department to another, and call it a ‘job loss’. With an increase of over 3 Billion dollars over the prior budget, I really don’t see it happening at all.

The problem we have in this state is there is to many chiefs making 6 digits and the all the representatives that got paid for the shut down and all the perks they get for only working 1 term, most people including the state employees have to work 20 years to get a good retirement package so why should they be any different. if we cut all the secret service to all ex presidents and their wives and children, we would save a bundle and giving them a office after they leave office. they are no threat to anyone they are only ex presidents and Governors. who fricken cares what they do after they leave office , get a job like the rest of us. NOW THAT WOULD SAVE A LOT OF MONEY TO THE TAX PAYERS.

False, false, false. You are looking at permanent union headcount workforce. Add in non-union and contractors, who are hired to do the work because state workers are lazy, and MN ranks 48 out of 50. How bad of a reporting job did the ‘cco reject staff do? Additionally I would wager that 9 of 10 people in MN would argue that MN produce the “best public service in the nation.” On top of that, even being #1, still would rank pubic SERVICES below 90% of private sector services. There are too many state workers, they are paid too much and they are too lazy!

The tenth leanest workforce, ranks 40th tied with Florida..which means Florida is doing much better with its ‘Pub gov and House and Senate…because it has …what 3x the populaion of MN yet operates with the same size workforce!! We don’t need to trim AFSCME we need to slash and burn!! Then outlaw public-workers unions and be able to hire more and better workers who will do the job as they will know they can now be fired. Ablosh AFSCME!